Means for controlling wildness of yarn during delivery



Oct. 27, 1959 H. M. STRUB, JR

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING WILDNESS OF YARN DURING DELIVERY Filed Aug. 21, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l YARN TAKE-UP am w RN TI 5 M Y a N E H ATTORNEYS Oct. 27, 1959 H. M. STRUB, JR 2,909,913

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING WILDNESS 0F YARN DURING DELIVERY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 21; 1956 J INVENTOR HENRY M. Smua, J12.

ATTORNEYS FO ONTRQ L NG W LDN S YARN D R NG DELIVE HenrynMrStmb', J11, Charlotte, N.C.,,.assignr to. The D planr po tiomt wrYo kalNXQ axorpo ation of, New York Application August-21, 1956, Serial No. 605,359 91Claims (Gl. 6 6-.-.12 ,5)'

The present invention relates generally to g controlling the :inherentwildness of lively; or stretch yarns as the yarn i icak u f rmthe -.s pp. yvpaokageandpa sesi rf rm oflweb forming machine; such; as a knitting machine or zanyo a on lM ng, twis guonq il ing m n Several; difficulties arise; when unwinding; a lively or stretch yarn from yarn supply packages or cones due-to the inherent characteristic of this yarn to twistand curl upon itselflwhen in a relaxed stateor at any; time that a slight tension is not placed on; this Qyarn; It is also quite ,diflicult to control and-provide a-uniforrn tension on the yarn. as it is takenofiihesupply package since the-,yarn is wound onto these supplypackages so that, as-the yarn is removed, the loop unwound from near the top of the supply package will ordinarily require; less tension; than the loop unwound from near. the bottom o fthe package.; In cases, such asa knitting vmachine Where the yarn is drawn fIQBfL packages in; intermittent steps, these lively or stretch yarns have a tendency to curl up and twist .upon themselves the moment .the ;-yarn ceases its travel from ,the yarn supplypackage.

It.,is;a primary object of thisinvention to provide a resilientrdevice to surround the yarn supply PflCkage and toncontacttheouterperiphery thereotvby placing a very slight r tension on the yarnebeing, unwound ,and ,to thus preventthe yarn; from curling and kinking upon itself due to thetwistinthe yarn or the crimp therein,

ltois'another object of this invention to provide a holder for the resilient, device -,which may be, adjusted to the particular, size yarn supply package being used so as to varythe-tensiomon the yarn as it is removed from the outer periphery of the yarn supplypackage.

Some of the. objects of the invention having been stated, ther bi otstw l ppear. r e. s pt Proceeds, when taken in A connection I with I the accompanying drawings, w oh F eure w antv m tr o i w o u er or of e silient tension and yarn controldevice removed from the suppo t eb eo Figure 2' is a sideelevation of this form of resilient s on vi e support d y a firs orm of holder;

Figure 3 is another view of this same holder turned 45 degrees and showing the resilient tension device in a e ent Po t n he ld Figure 4 is a side elevation of a second modified form of'holder;

Figure 5 is a plan viewrof theholdeig yarn supply package and resilient tension deyiceshown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an isometric view of a second modified form of resilient tension device;

Figure-7 is an isometric view of'a third modified form of holder for the tension device shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 -is--an exploded --isometrie-viewof another type ofiyarn supply package and standtherefor adaptable to receive theholder and tension device shown in Figure 7;

Figure-9 is a side elevation oftheyarn control device,

ice

the holder; stand -and yarn supplyrpackageaim.assembledw or operative position,

Referringmore specifically: to thetdrawings it will be. noted that the first form of yarn controlidevicexof the;

present invention, shown in Figures ;1 through-1 5; is .par, ticularly adaptable for. use withra;package-of the; cone;

yarn control device,shownrinuFigures 6:1throL1glEk9 is :pa,-

ticularly adaptable for useawitlr;atyarnysupply;package;

which has flanged endsrthereon and it is.:to :be;.1m lrstood that .this form of the inventiommay also be usedwith-the cone, typepackages as; Well; 7

Figure; 1 shows one; forn1- ofi;;res ilient member-in; the form ofra tube--10- which is shown and desc ribed as a tube knihfromany; ot ;the str;et;ch; yarns. The tube;,1 0; may be knit from; 21- non streteh yagn -.with an: elastici yarni incorporatedtherein -or-may be; braided, woven, ormolded, from a resil ient ;materialsuch as; rubber. as-long ;as ;th e. stret h onr sil nt; q a ty :i t tain d. c s ne; xa p but a nonlimiting exampie, -ot; a method; oi; producing; this resilient; tubulanmernberris to,;knit. .two ends oft 30; denier plied right and left twist l-lelanca yarn on a circu-. lar 108 needle 4 ineh;knitting machine to the proper length, whichin'ithis caseis approximately 3 inches inthe relaxed 'orcontracted -condition-.

One; form of holder or support -,for ;.-this resilient .tube 10, is shown in Figures-,2 and r-3,and comprises-a rbase or stand; 11 withaan, opening; 12,- cutrthorfiinrfoninsertion of the lower; end .013, a cone, (13; which has ;a-; yarn la woundthereon to formiwhatiis generally knowrrvas a package, 14a. A plurality, of upstandingnlegs or. supports 16 areprovided .the lower :ends .of which penetrate-the stand 11 and the lower, inturnedportions of:- which. are fixed to; the lower edge ofthe base :11. Eachofthe supportrnern bers,16'areprovided with a pair"offadjustableupper and lower set collars, the upper V collar s;,indicated at 20 .and, the lower collars ,indicated atll The collars 20 and 21 each have locking,screws,122, inserted therein adaptedto. engage the support rods-16,,to-lock. thepollars 20; and .21, in the desired vertical location on-..the supp.orts, 16.v

The lower edge of the tubular member 10 is stretched and diametricallyepposed pointslare,placedronethe four, supports 16, The collars 21am then placed on thesup; ports ,1 6, and, the collars' Zi) spaced -the desired distance abovethe collars 21and diarnetrically opposed points of the upper edge of the tube 10 are then placed on the supports 16. By varying the vertical distance between the upper collars 20, and .the lower collars 21, theamount of tension placed on the outer periphery of theyarn package 14a .and the area. of the package contacted by the tube 10 maybe-varied to adjust the amountof drag on the yarn so that light even drag or tension will be maintained as it is pulled'ofi or unwound from the package 1'4a'by any suitable yarn take-up mechanism, ,such asa knitting machine, winding or twisting machine indicated at 25 in Figure 3. As the collars 20; are moved closer together (FigureZ) thelamount ot tensionwithwhich the resilient tube ltlgripsthe yarn package rl4a increases and as the collars 20; 21" are moved a greater distance apart, along thesupports 16, (Figure3) the grippingten sion around'the package 14a decreases. The point at which the tube 10 contacts the package 14a may also be moved vertically by movement of the collars 20, 21'; It has 'been found that the best results are obtained when the point at which -thetubular member 10' contacts the yarn package'is approximately one to one-anda halt inches from; the top-'of the yarn 1 packages- 14abut-.1 the Fatented, et,. 7, 125.9%,

device will apply a light tension to the package if contact is made at any point along the vertical height of the yarn package 14a.

The modified form of tubular holder shown in Figures 4 and 5 comprises a base 30 and four upstanding tubular support members 31, the lower ends of which are turned inwardly and fixed on the bottom of the base member 30 and the upper ends are provided with crimped or saw-tooth portions 32 for reception of the upper and lower edges of the resilient tubular member 10., The crimped portions 32 take the place of the collars 2t), 21 and provide a means for adjusting the distance between the upper and lower edges of the tube 10. As heretofore pointed out, the distance between opposite ends of the tubular member determines the amount of tension placed on the yarn 14 as it is taken off the package by the yarn take-up 25.

a The modified form of the resilient tubular member, shown in Figure 6 and indicated at 40, may be knit on the same type knitting machine and in the same manner as the resilient tube 10, shown in Figure 1, the only difference being in the length thereof. The type of holder provided to support this tubular member 40 (Figures 7, 8 and -9) comprises a base bobbin support 41 provided with an opening 42 therein for the reception of the spindle 43 of a bobbin 44 of the type which is usually provided with respective lower and upper flanges or head members 45 and 46. This bobbin 44 is the type usually used as the take-up bobbin on winding or twisting machines and is sometimes used as a supply package for knitting machines. A yarn 47 is wound on the bobbin 44 to form a yarn package 48. A tubular holder 50, which may be made from paper, metal or any form of plastic material, is provided to support and stretch the opposite ends of the tubular member 40. The top and bottom of the tube 40 are stretched over the upper and lower edges of the holder 50 and secured thereto by any suitable means such as adhesive tapes or bands 49. The lower edge of the holder 50 with the tubular member 40 secured thereto is then placed on and supported by the base 41 so that a portion of the tubular member 40 will engage the package 48 and the upper flange 46 of the bobbin 44 (Figure 9). Thus, the tube 40 maintains a light even gripping tension on the yarn package 48 and on the outer edge of flange 46 as the yarn 47 is withdrawn by any suitable yarn take-up 51. Thus, the yarn 47 being removed from the package 48 is -constantly under a very light tension to prevent unnecessarily unlooping or unwinding as the yarn take-up 51 pulls the yarn 47 from the package 48. The tube 40 also causes the yarn 47 to ride around and against the head member 46 as it is removed by the yarn take-up 51 and prevent ballooning of the yarn. In some cases, a smooth tight fitting cap, not shown, may be placed over the head member 46 of the bobbin 44 to protect the yarn 47 from engaging any rough spots or nicks in the edge of the head member 46 as it is unwound.

It is thus seen that there has been provided a yarn control device in the form of a tubular resilient member adapted to surround and lightly engage the yarn supply package to apply an even, constant tension to the yarn as it is pulled from the yarn supply package to any suitable yarn take-up mechanism.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for controlling a lively yarn as it is withdrawn over one end of a yarn supply package comprising a resilient tubular member surrounding said yarn supply package, said tubular member being stretchable lengthwise and widthwise, and a support for said resilient tubular member for expanding opposite ends of said tubular member substantially equal amounts to hold the central portion only of said tubular member in resilient engagement with a circumferential area of said yarn supply package adjacent the end over which the yarn is withdrawn.

2. In an apparatus for controlling a lively yarn as it is withdrawn over one end of a yarn supply package comprising the combination of a tubular resilient member having open opposite ends and stretchable lengthwise as well as widthwise, and a support for holding said resilient tubular member having a base and means for stretching opposite ends of said tubular resilient member supported by said base, said support surrounding said yarn supply package and supporting said tubular resilient member so that the central portion of said tubular member engages a circumferential area adjacent the delivery end of said yarn supply package.

3. A device for controlling a lively yarn as it is removed from one end of a yarn supply package com prising a tubular resilient member surrounding said yarn supply package, said tubular member being stretched widthwise substantially equal amounts at opposite .ends with the medial portion only engaging a circumferential area of said yarn supply package adjacent the yarn takeoff end only, and a support member to which the opposite ends of the tubular resilient member are secured.

4. In a device according to claim 3 wherein said support member comprises a base, upstanding legs on said base adapted to receive the stretched opposite ends of said tubular member and means on said legs for adjusting the distance between opposite ends of said tubular member.

5. In a device according to claim 4 wherein said adjustment means on said legs comprises adjustable set collars engageable with opposite ends of said tubular member.

6. In a device according to claim 4 wherein said adjustment means on said legs comprises crimped portions engageable by opposite ends of said tubular member.

7. A device for controlling a lively yarn as it is removed from one end of a yarn supply package comprising a tubular resilient member, said tubular resilient member being stretched at opposite ends with the central portion thereof surrounding and engaging a circumferential area adjacent the yarn takeoff end only of said yarn supply package, and a rigid tubular support member surrounding said tubular resilient member and to which the opposite stretched ends of the tubular resilient member are secured.

8. An apparatus for controlling a lively yarn as it is unwound from one end of a yarn supply package comprising a tubular resilient member surrounding said yarn supply package, said tubular member being expanded at opposite ends substantially equal amounts and to a diameter substantially greater than the diameter of the yarn supply package with the medial portion thereof engaging a portion only of said yarn supply package, a rigid tubular support member surrounding said tubular resilient member and to which the opposite expanded ends of the tubular member are secured, and a base member supporting said yarn supply package and said rigid tubular member whereby the medial portion of said tubular resilient member engages the yarn takeoff end only of said yarn supply package.

9. A device for controlling a lively yarn as it is removed from one end of a yarn supply package comprising a tubular resilient member surrounding said yarn supply package, said tubular member being stretched substantially equal amounts at opposite ends, the unstretched central portion of said tubular resilient member engaging a circumferential area of said yarn supply package adjacent the yarn takeoff end only, the area of esilient member extending References Cited in the file of STATES PATENTS UNITED 2,366,101 Grothey Dec. 26, 1944 w 2,696,952 Beier Dec. 14, 1954 Gift June 17, 1958 6 FOREIGN PATENTS Netherlands Mar. 15, 1948 Italy June 20, 1947 Great Britain Aug. 2, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Nor 2 9 09 913 "October 27 1959 Henry M, Strub, Jr.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent shouldread as corrected below.

In the grant lines 2 and 3 for "of New York N Y. a corporation of New York," read of WinstonSalem, North Carolina a corporation of Delaware in the heading to the printed specification, lines 5 and 6, for "New York, N. Y, I

a corporation of New York" read Winston-Salem, N. C, a corporation of Delaware Signed and sealed this 28th day of April 1964 (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W SWIDER EDWARD Jo BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

